Lasting-machine for boots or shoes



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

F. CHASE.

LASTING MACHINE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

No. 337,925. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. CHASE. LASTING MACHINE FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

No. 337,925. Patented Mar. 16. 1886.

N. PUERS. Phom-Lnhn n nu. Washingmn. ac.

(No Model.) 4 Sheet-Sh'eet 3'.

F. CHASE.

LASTING MAGHINE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

No. 337,925. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

W ahwzw N. PETERS. Plmlo-L|lhngraplven Washmgwm D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

F. CHASE LASTING MACHINE FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES. No. 337,925. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

UNrTnn STaTns PATENT @rrrcn.

FRANK CHASE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASTlNG-MACHINE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,925, dated March 16, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Onlisn, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and Improved Machine for Lasting Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a lasting-machine ofthe character patented to me June 9,1885, No. 319,784.. In operating that machine I have found it desirable that the last shall be so mounted as to be capable of being pressed toward the lasting-wipers during their operation. They thus obtain a better hold upon the upper, and the latter is more closely and evenly fitted to the last. This movement of the last will be more effective if the actuating devices are so arranged that individual freedom of motion is permitted to its two ends.

The subject-matter of this present application relates more especially to such a mounting of the last as is above described; to the devices which hold the last in the machine; to a mechanism for positively lifting the wipers by any desired amount of force after they have obtained their hold upon the upper, and thus stretching the latter to the desired degree; to means whereby one or more sets of wipers (for instance, the heel or toe wipers, or both) are kept from operating till the other set or sets have performed their lasting operation, and to devices which retard the edge of the upper as it is lasted, to insure that the latter shall be drawn tightly over the last without wrinkles.

My invention can best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lastjug-machine constructed and operated upon the same general plan as my said patented machine, and embodying also my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the toe-clamp of the machine with its top plates removed. Fig. at is a longitudinal vertical section of the same 011 line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isacross-section on line55, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa side view of one of the retarding-nippers. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the wiper-lilting mechanism.

A is a standard supporting a table-like frame, A, having a central opening, around which are arranged the devices which hold the last and operate upon the upper.

B is a post situated in the opening referred to, and which fits into and forms a rest for the last at one end. At t is shown a rest for the other end of the last, consisting of aplate preferably hollowed upon its upper surface to fit the last, and vertically movable upon guides, consisting in this instance of pins t". The rest t may be supported by springs t ,wllich tend to press the last upward.

T is a rod which bears against the under side of the rest it. Both this rod and the post B are arranged to be operated simultaneously by a foot treadle and lever, t* T*, to press the last upward. In order, however, that each end of the last may be raised the proper distance or supported with the proper amount of force relative to the other end, I have interposed equalizing devices between the posts B and T and the foot-lever or other actuating device.

In the construction shown the equalizing device consists of a lever, B, pivoted at one end to the post B and at the other to the rod T and connected between said pivotal points with the foot-lever T by means of a rod, T. This arrangement permits, by the oscillation of the lever B upon its fulcrum, independent movement to the two ends of the last as it is pressed upward against the wipers. It will be understood, however, that an arrangement oi'cords and pulleys or other equalizing device could be used to ell'ect the object I have in view, in place of lever B.

The side wipers are indicated at W. As shown, they consist of nipper-wipers such as constitute the subject-matter of my application No. 180,925, filed October 26, 1885. They are carried by slides R, which are actuated by a system of cords and pulleys from a shaft, Q, as described in detail in my patent referred to.

The wiper-carrying slides R areheld in ways in the pivoted blocks P. In my patent referred, to springs q were used to force up the inner ends of said blocks after the side wipers had obtained their hold upon the edges of the upper. In the case of a very stiff and heavy upper, however, such springs are insuificient for the purpose. I have therefore devised and will now describe a mechanism for positively IOC raising the wipers, and thus stretching the upper, which may be used either as auxiliary to the springs q or in place of them.

Q is an upright rod, which is arranged to be forced upward with any desired amount of force by a treadle-lever, Q. It is pivoted at its upper end to the outer arm, Q, of a lever, which is pivoted to the main frame at q'.' The inner arm of the lever is forked, (see Fig. 7,) each arm q of which carries an equalizing-bar, R, pivoted to the arm at r. Each equalizingbar is connected with two of the blocks P by links R The operation of this mechanism to raise the blocks and stretch the upper is ob-. vious. but four of the side wipers-those near the toe of the last,where an upward stretching is most necessary; but it is evident that by a system of equalizing-bars and links all of the side wipers could be operated.

The heel and toe clamps are each made ,in two parts, H H T T, which slide upon converging ways a under the operation of screws H H, gearing c, shafts c, and hand-wheel O, as described in detail in my said patent. The heel-clamp is properly shaped at its inner end to hold the last, and is provided at said point with a rubber cushion, h. gages, by means of recesses t" in its parts TT, with a toe-support, T The latter rests upon an inclined plane, D, which is longitudinally adjustable upon the frame A by means of a thumb-nut, D, passing through a slot in the frame and engaging with the part'D. By this arrangement the forward or backward move ment of the toe-clamp, carrying with it the toesupport T, is accompanied by an upward or downward movement of the latter. The height of the toe-support is regulated by the longitudinal adjustment of the inclined plane. At its forward end the toe-support carries the pins 29, already referred to, which guide the rest t. The rod T ,which bears against theunder side of the rest, passes up loosely through a hole in the toe-support. The rod is carried with thetoe-support as the latter moves, the part D being slotted vertically at t to permit the entrance of the rod.

E E are central plates carried, respectively, by the heel and toe clamps,and projecting inward so as to lap slightly over the last at each end. They are provided with downward projections e e, which engage with recesses in the clamps, upon which press laterally spiral springs g, seated in the recesses, to keep the plates centered in the clamps as. the latteropen and close. (See Figs. 2 and 4t.)

1 The heel and toe wipers J are pivoted to these plates atj. They have a pin-and-slot connection with actuating-plates F F F F, adapted to slide in ways in the end clamps under the action of the cords L, which also operate the side wipers.

Instead, however, of lasting the upper upon all sides at once, as in my patented machine, I find it desirable to operate first upon one part of the upper--say the sides-and then The toe-clamp enupon the other parts-in this case the ends. The final strain upon the upper is, however, equally distributed by means of the yielding of the various wipers to each other, as describedin my said patent.

In the construction shown the machine is adapted to last first the sides and then the ends of the upper.

F F F F indicate catch-levers, pivoted to the end clamps at f, there being a lever for each of the plates F F F F, adapted to engage with the plates when the latter are retracted by means of teeth f.

f f indicate lateral arms of the levers,

I have shown it as adapted to operatermxtending beneath the rear ends of the plates E E. v

f are stop-blocks situatedin recesses in-the end clamps, and carried by pins ffiwhich pass up through said plates and are sustained by yielding springsf When in their higher position,the upper portion of the blocksf lie in the same horizontal plane with and upon the inner side of the lateral arms of the catchlevers, thus keeping the teeth f in engagement with the wiper-operating plates F F F F.

Atf the catch levers are provided with spurs, which project into the path of the wiper-operating plates, and the spurs are" of such length and the play of the levers is so limited that the spurs are always kept in said path while the teethf are out of engagement with the plates. The plates therefore, as they are retracted, will come in contact with the spurs and'so move the catch-levers as to automatically bring the teethf back into engagement. The springsf immediately raise the blocksf" and lock the catch -levers in such position.

G is a spring-clasp arranged to gather the upper around the toe of the last and prepare it for the operation of the toe-wipers. It is situated just below the wipers and carried by a pin which enters a longitudinal bearing in the plate E. Aspiral spring, G bears against the rear of the pin and presses the clasp against the last, at the same time permitting the clasp to yield as the clamp advances.

At 1 are shown nippers, one for eachof the toe-wipers. They are mounted on cars carried by the top plates, I, of the end clamps, and may be pressed down upon said plates or held back in an inoperative position by springs 6. They are so arranged relative to the wipers that the edges of the upper may be laid back over the retracted wipers and held between said nippers and the plates I. It will be understood that the nippers I may be used at the heel as well.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The last, having the insole and upper applied thereto, is placed in the machine, its rear end being supported by the post or rest B, and its toe sustained by the rest it and held by the clasp G.

the hand-wheel O to advance upon the last and firmly secure it, it being at the same time raised into the plane of operation of the wipers IIO The end clamps are then caused by at both the heel and toe,and there forcibly held by the treadle T and rods B and T. The side nipper-wipers are now given a hold upon the edge of the upper, and the latter drawn upward by depressing the treadle-lever Q. The power-shalt Q is now rotated by wheel Q, and the heel and toe wiper operating plates being held back by the catchlevers F, the rotation of the power-shaft, acting upon the cords L, causes the side nipper-wipers only to advance and perform their lasting operation. The upper at the toe, and at the heel also, if provision has been made for it, is now laid back over the wipers J and held by the spring controlled nippers P. The heel-wipers and toewipers, either simultaneously or successively, as may be preferred, are then brought into operation. This is effected by tapping upon the tops of pins f, which releases the lateral arms of the catch-levers,upon which the latter are thrown out of engagement with plates F F F F by the strain of the cords L, and the advance of said plates permitted. This sweeps forward the wipers J, which, by reason of the dragging action of nippers 1 draw the upper very tightly over the instep of the last.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combinatiomwith the lastclamping devices and the wipers, of a movable plate, T longitudinally adjustable to different sizes of lasts, vertical guides carried by the plate, arest for the last movable in said guides, and springs interposed between the rest and plate for giving a yielding support to the rest, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with the last-clamping devices and the wipers, of a rest for the last, comprising a heel and toe rest independent of the clamps, and devices, substantially as described, for pressing or raising the rest toward the plane of operation of the wipers, where it may then be clamped, substantially as hcreinbeiore set forth.

3. The combination,with the last-clamping maintained in the plane of operation of the wipers, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination, with the side wipers and the end wipers, both operated from a common power mechanism through yielding devices which pull upon the wipers simultaneously but independently, of devices, substantially as described, for locking one or more sets of said wipers in their inoperative position while the other wipers perform their lasting operation, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination,with the wiper,of a retarding-nipper, 1, situated behind the wiper, and adapted to hold the upper ina folded position over the wiper and cause a tight and smooth lasting of the upper, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a longitudinallymovable end clamp for the last, of a support for the last engaging and longitudinally movable with the clamp, an inclined plane forming a bed for the support, and means for ad justing said plane longitudinally independently of the support, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the end wipers,ofan automaticallybodily yielding spring-clasp, G, arranged just below the plane of operation of the wipers and separate from and independent of the latter, said clasp being adapted to fit around the end of the last and to gather evenly and prepare the upper for the operation of the wipers, substantially as described.

8. The co1nbination,with thelasting-wipers adapted to obtain a hold upon the leather, of equalizing mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said wipcrs are positively forced upward simultaneously, but for different distances relatively to one another, thus evenly stretching the upper, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the horizontallysliding and pivoted wipers having means for grasping the leather, of a mechanism, substantially as described, for forcing the inner ends of said wipers upward to stretch the upper, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of November, 1885.

FRANK CHASE.

Witnesses:

EWELL A. DrcK, J. WALTER BLANDFORD. 

